'Manipulative' care worker claimed she was police liaison officer involved in murder case as she carried out fraud on couple who took pity on her

Kayleigh Asquith lied about having a young son and spoke about a fictitious boyfriend who had been violent towards her during the deception.

The 27-year-old also told her victims that she was a police liaison officer and claimed she was connected to a murder case.

Geraldine Kelly, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court Asquith befriended the couple in 2017 after helping to care for the woman's father.

After spinning a tale about her boyfriend being abusive and having money problems, the couple allowed her to live with them rent free at their home in the Pontefract area.

She asked the man to help her buy a car, claiming loans had been taken out in her name when she was younger and was unable to get finance.

In June 2017 she bought two iPads using the man's account while he was away on holiday.

Asquith denied ordering the devices when she was confronted but was asked to move out.

The defendant then sent the couple messages pretending to be a police liaison officer and told them she had been taken into police protection.

The court was told that the couple eventually helped her buy her several cars, including the Range Rover.

Victim impact statements read to the court indicated that the victims had been deeply affected by the lies and deceit from Asquith.

The court was also told that she had become a carer for another woman from Castleford last year who suffered from multiple sclerosis, and that she had stolen and used the woman's Argos card.

Asquith, of Holly Street, Hemsworth, admitted two counts of fraud, one of theft, and perverting the course of justice.

She appeared in court via a video link from HMP New Hall where she had been held on remand for the past two months.

Jo Shepherd, mitigating, said Asquith had no previous convictions and that her difficult childhood had played a part in her behaviour.

She said: "It does not excuse her behaviour but might account for why she has acted in a rather bizarre way and was ultimately doomed to failure.

"She struggled to come to terms with the lies she has told.

"She desperately found a family that she craved from childhood and was doing everything to hold onto that relationship.

"While she manipulated and deceived them, it was born perhaps out of her motivation to become part of their family."

Ms Shepherd said Asquith had paid back much of the money she owed, with around £7,500 still outstanding.

She said Asquith had also realised that her career as a care worker that she loved was now over.

Recorder Jennifer Carter-Manning said: "Your offending involved multiple acts of dishonest manipulation and complicated deceit.

"People who trusted you, liked you and loved you were perfectly entitled to rely upon you."

Asquith was jailed for 27 months.